"Curtis L. Russell" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> "Mark Lee" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> ...
> > Traditional bikes can be ridden easily in packs for fellowship so
cycling
> > becomes a social pursuit as well as a physical one. Trad bikes are more common so friends to
> > ride with are easier to find. Mark Lee
> >
> Yeah, right, like most diamond frame riders ride in pace lines where it makes a difference.
Well, a lot do round here. Brisbane, Australia - many groups of 40-120 cyclists.
>Where do you draw the line? Think its physically possible to mix drop bars with flats, or does that
>worry you too?
It's physically possible, but only the very fittest can keep up on a MTB - only happens when an
A-grader's roadbike is away for repair. A local shopowner (ex Euro-pro) rode one of those Cannondale
townbikes (skinny tyres, flat bars, disk brakes) ONCE... and it doesn't worry me because I'm not the
one stuck with one hand position and low gears.
> You can ride a diamond frame with diamond frames, but you can also ride tandems, recumbents and
> tandem recumbents with people on diamond frames
and
> any other mix.
I've ridden a tandem with groups and been in groups where a tandem is mixing
it. Tandems are fast but don't work well with repeated changes of pace or uphills. They can be fine
but aren't as manouevrable as singles. Recumbents cannot be a part of a big diamond-frame
bunch. They can hang off the back or front but they're too different to mix in. (pedals stuck
out in front, different height)
> And when it comes to pace lines, most diamond frame riders are an accident waiting to happen
> anyway. In a small percentage of cases
the
> type of frame makes a difference. Like the next A++ or USCF pace line...
There are risks but accidents are fairly infrequent in the bunches I know of. At least on a
"wedgie", the bike is stable enough for no-hands, you can look over your shoulder, jump
potholes/trenches, unweight or stand for speedhumps, grab a drink or bite, get changed, etc.
> MOST of the time, bike people riding together are taking the time to make allowances for the
> others in the group anyway, whether when the more fit wait for the less fit, the singles ease up
> when things favor them and vice versa five miles down the road for the tandems, the faster hit the
> store earlier and wait eating ice cream until the slower ones show up, and so on and so on. The
> bike style has nothing to do with it. It has every thing to do with the people.
MOST of the time, if you can't keep up, you can turn around and head home or you can wait 'til the
bunch comes back Those who eat ice-cream regularly are the first dropped (disregard if 22 yrs of
age, less than 65kg and doing 400+mi per week).
> FWIW, in reply to the original question, I ride at about 16-17 mph on my recumbent and can ride
> and climb with most club riders. The USCF and A++ riders have to slow down when they talk to me,
> but they are probably
looking
> for an excuse anyway (either to slow down or to not talk to me). And I
have
> to slow down for some riders, diamond frame and recumbent, at times, but
the
> recumbent is comfortable at any speed and I'm probably looking for an
excuse
> to slow down at the time anyway...
FWIW we ride at 25-35mph on the flats (only possible in a group -for me anyway) with sprints to
about 40mph. We range from teenagers to 60+, from surgeons/pilots/DJ's to European professional
cyclists (depending on the time of year). My diamond frame bike is comfy from 18mph to about 25mph
solo (too slow and the bum complains, too fast and the legs start to complain). I have ridden with
recumbents a coupla times - interesting to look down on the flurry of gear changes for no apparent
advantage. I have ridden past a few. I know they're extremely fast - must just be the riders that
are so slow. But I'd love to have two recumbents - a tadpole trike (Windcheetah) and SWB lowracer
bike - what fun! I say if you're only going to have one bike make it a traditional diamond frame.
> OTOOH, I rode a diamond frame in relative comfort for a long time, so if
it
> fits and works, you don't need a recumbent. I still ride a diamond frame
for
> winter utility and some commuting and it is still a working design after
all
> these years.
>
OTOOH - diamond frames are still the most versatile design after all these years! Mark Lee